Movers and shakers news round-up

This month’s industry movers and shakers sees appointments and departures at the Professional Standards Authority and healthcare technology firms Drayson Health and Liva Healthcare.

Harry Cayton, chief executive of the Professional Standards Authority, has announced his intention to step down in September.

Cayton, who has been chief executive of the Authority since 2007, has been asked by the minister of health of British Columbia in Canada to carry out a statutory review of the region and make recommendations for regulatory reform.

“I have great admiration and respect for the staff of the Authority,” said Cayton.

“We have achieved so much together and I know they will continue to add to our achievements. But the next stage of reform will inevitably take time so it is right at a period of stability and success for the Authority to recruit new leadership to take it forward.”

Virtualstock has announced the appointment of a new healthcare product strategist, Graham Medwell, with effect from 18 June.

Medwell is currently the product lead for the Scan4Safety project at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. He will be responsible for implementing The Edge4Health, Virtualstock’s software as a service procurement platform for the NHS.

Commenting on his appointment, Medwell said: “I am very excited to be joining Virtualstock and to further enhance the product strategy of the Edge4Health and drive the realisation of the significant benefits of the platform for both providers and suppliers.”

Virtualstock CEO and chairman, Andrew Mills, added: “We are delighted to welcome Graham to our team. His experience in healthcare supply chain technology will prove invaluable as we further develop our offering, with continuous commitment to the NHS and wider public sector.”

Liva Healthcare has appointed Simon Pickup to its newly-created role of UK managing director.

Pickup has more than 20 years’ experience in the healthcare field and will be responsible for the operations of the UK business and its growth into new and existing industry sectors.

Liva provides a digital healthcare platform which connects patients to lifestyle and disease management coaches. The platform is currently being trialled as part of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

Kristoffer From, the company’s chief executive, commented: “Simon has a unique mix of skills, experience and contacts which are essential to Liva as we continue to grow the UK arm of our business.

“Our role in the NHS digital pilot is already proving how our hybrid model of human and digital intervention can be effective in preventing the onset of chronic diseases, such as diabetes.

“With Simon on board, we are now aiming to widen our presence in the UK through building new partnerships and launching new health prevention programmes with private insurance, pharma and public healthcare bodies.”

Health tech company Drayson Health has announced the appointment of Professor David Clifton as research director, in a joint appointment with the University of Oxford.

Professor Clifton, an associate professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford and research fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, brings expertise in machine learning applications in healthcare to the firm.

He will be responsible for applying his machine learning research to the development of “novel healthcare technologies” for deployment by Drayson Health within the NHS.

Finally, Susan Acott has been appointed the permanent chief executive of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

Previously chief executive at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, Acott has been acting as interim chief executive since October 2017, one month after Matthew Kershaw stepped down.

Acott has held senior positions in the NHS in Manchester, Merseyside, York and London and is a member of NHS Employers’ policy board.

Commenting on her appointment, Acott said: “It has been a privilege to meet and work with excellent and committed staff at East Kent Hospitals over the past six months, and I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with staff, patients and the communities the trust serves to provide excellent hospital services for local people.”